Double impatiens plant named ‘Cameo Scarlet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Cameo Scarlet’, characterized by its extremely large scarlet-colored flowers; fully double flower form; freely flowering habit with flowers positioned above the foliage; compact, mounded, somewhat spreading, densely foliated, and freely branching plant habit; and large rounded dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Cameo Scarlet’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Cartago, Costa Rica. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new compact Double Impatiens cultivars with largefully double flowers, excellent branching, and interesting flower andfoliage colors.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross made by the Inventor of theImpatiens walleriana cultivar Confection Orange, not patented, as themale, or pollen parent, with the Impatiens walleriana cultivar ImpulseScarlet, not patented, as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar CameoScarlet was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inCartago, Costa Rica.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the male parent, thecultivar Confection Orange, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens have fully double scarlet flowers whereasplants of the cultivar Confection Orange have semi-double orangeflowers.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are sterile whereas flowers ofplants of the cultivar Confection Orange are fertile.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens are shorter than plants of the cultivarConfection Orange.

Plants of the female parent, Impulse Scarlet, and plants of the newImpatiens differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens have fully double scarlet flowers whereasplants of the cultivar Impulse Scarlet have single dar k scarletflowers.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are sterile whereas flowers ofplants of the cultivar Impulse Scarlet are fertile.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens are shorter than plants of the cultivarImpulse Scarlet.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atCartago, Costa Rica, has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Cameo Scarlet’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Cameo Scarlet’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Extremely large scarlet-colored flowers; freely flowering.

2. Fully double flower form.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Flowers positioned above the foliage.

5. Compact, mounded and somewhat spreading plant habit.

6. Freely branching habit.

7. Large rounded dark green leaves; densely foliated.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivarSalsa Red U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,606. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the new Impatiensdiffer from plants of the cultivar Fiesta Salsa Red in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens and plants of the cultivar Fiesta SalsaRed differ in flower color, 44B and 46B, respectively.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are about 25% larger and havemore petals than flowers of plants of the cultivar Fiesta Salsa Red.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are more rounded than leaves ofplants of the cultivar Fiesta Salsa Red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers and leaves of ‘Cameo Scarlet’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Cameo Scarlet has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The photographicillustrations and the following observations, measurements andcomparisons describe about 6 week old plants grown in 10 cm pots inLompoc, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 21 to 24° C., night temperaturesabout 16 to 18° C. and light levels generally about 3,000 to 4,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Cameo Scarlet.

Parentage:

Male parent.—Impatiens walleriana cultivar Confection Orange, notpatented.

Female parent.—Impatiens walleriana cultivar Impulse Scarlet, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days with 21° C. Winter: About12 days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—Summer and winter: About 28days at 21° C.

Rooting habit.—Numerous, fibrous, fine and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Compact, mounded and somewhat spreading. Appropriatefor 10 to 15-cm pots to 20 and 25-cm hanging basket containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Freely-branching with at least ten lateralbranches at the base, dense and bushy growth. Pinching, that is, removalof the terminal apices, is typically not required. Vigorous and rapidgrowth rate.

Crop time.—10-cm pot: Without pinching, about 5 to 6 weeks. 25-cmhanging basket container: Without pinching, about 8 to 10 weeks; with asoft pinch, about 6 to 8 weeks.

Plant height.—About 18 cm.

Plant spread.—24 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 to 20 cm. Diameter: About 6 to 10 mm.Internode length: About 1 to 2.5 cm. Color: Light green with somepurplish anthocyanin coloration on older stems.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, alternate; broad and rounded,generally symmetrical; abundant, densely foliated. Length: About 4 cm.Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin:Slightly serrate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Young foliage, uppersurface: 137A. Young foliage, lower surface: 148C. Fully expandedfoliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:147B. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface: 138A.Petiole: Length: About 1 to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Color:147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double scarlet-coloredflowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flower buds open similar toa rose in fullness. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually about 8 to 15flowers and flower buds per lateral branch and about 75 to 100 flowersand flower buds on a mature plant. Flowers positioned above the foliageand typically face outward to upward. Flowers generally flat androunded. Flowers last about 7 to 10 days on the plant depending ontemperature and weather conditions. Flowers not persistent. Flowers notfragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth: About 2 cm.

Flower buds.—Rate of opening: From showing color to fully open flower,about 5 to 7 days is typical depending on temperature. Length: About 1.6cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 30 to 35 per flower; imbricate.Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Ovate to cordate.Apex: Rounded to indented. Base: Rounded to acute. Margin: Entire.Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: 43A. When opening,lower surface: 41A. Fully opened, upper surface: 44B, fading to 44C.Fully opened, lower surface: 41B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Angle: About 45° to the lateral branch.Strength: Strong.

Reproductive organs.—None observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have demonstrated goodresistance to pathogens common to Impatiens.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plantnamed ‘Cameo Scarlet’, as illustrated and described.